Financial aid is generous. Anyone who wants to attend will be given the means to do so via outright gifts, loans, and work study.
A student who lives in a dorm with a dining room must have a meal plan. Those who choose dorms without dining can purchase a meal plan or not. I recommend getting a meal plan the first year. The workload can be intimidating. Committing to food shopping, cooking, and cleaning may not be a wise decision as a freshman.